Hiking and Halloween

I have said it many times and I will probably say it a few more times...I love fall!  It is the perfect weather for hiking.  You've got to love the crunching of the leaves as you wind your way through aspens and pines.  With it being fall, you know what that means--Halloween!!  The pumpkins are carved, the Halloween tree is up and Halloween is in full gear at the Tullis home.

Andy and a couple other dads took the kids out for a fall hike one beautiful, chilly morning.  Here is Emma and Olive...

checking out the ducks...

Speaking of ducks, that is what Emma is going to be for Halloween this year.

A week ago, we helped celebrate Cole and Amelia's 1st birthdays.  Emma loves the little ones...

Every year, Emma's school has a Halloween party.  The kids get to pick their pumpkin from a field and paint it.  What a piece of art!

Last night, we had our annual pumpkin carving party.  Emma was into scooping out the seeds, until her friends arrived.  She had better things to do.

With 6 little ones, thank goodness for a basement full of toys.

Awwww...good ol' pals!

A couple of the artists hard at work...

 

The finished products...

Our Halloween tree

Fantastic Fall Fun!

Well, I must say, I do LOVE fall!  Emma, on the other hand, is more interested in it snowing so she can go skiing (or, as she says it...skiining).  We've had a busy past couple of weeks, out and about, enjoying this perfect fall weather.

It wouldn't be fall without eating apples.

a day at the zoo...

Rizzo was taking a nap.

how cozy...

So this alligator was sleeping and a little squirrel was quite curious.  He ran back and forth in front of the alligator about 5 times before getting out of dodge.  We took video, just in case the alligator snatched up the squirrel.    

A couple of weeks ago, we headed up to Snowbird for Oktoberfest with the Ostroski family.  

 We rode the tram up to the top--about 10,000 feet in elevation.

reading books to Cooper...

The weather if perfect for hiking.

Every year, people make scarecrows and line them up on a trail.  Some of them are very creative.

The day before our first chilly night, we picked our vegetables.  This was our trial year for growing vegetables.  Here is our mini cucumber.

Our pumpkins didn't get too far...

 Even though our two carrots were small, they were delicious!

We had our Fall Festival at our school.  Emma LOVED the big slide.

Wheeeeeee...

We went to pick pumpkins with Grandma, Grandpa, cousin Kyler, and Casey.

Riding the tractors is always a hit.

as is the corn maze...

Happy Fall to you!

Our Little Ski Bunny

I don't have too much to report on this post.  The weather has been absolutely perfect fall temperatures. The trees are colorful.  School is going well.  Classes are going well.  Emma loves to go see her friends every day.  

Well, Emma is sure excited for the snow.  She got her ski pass!!!  Every day, she talks about how she is going to go skiing when it snows a lot.

I got my U Card!!  This gets me into classrooms, is used as a bus pass, and allows me to get discounts at certain places.  

I turned in my first grad school project!  We had to design a way to successfully teach people how to play a Swedish game called Kubb.

One of Emma's favorite activities these days is playing with her chalk.

taking a walk in the backyard

Busy! (x2)

In the past few weeks, life got about twice as busy as normal.  We started back at school on August 22nd, which means that's when Emma started back at school.  My grad. classes started on August 21st, which I am LOVING.  We still can't seem to sit too still on the weekends.   Life is in full swing!  

lazy Sunday morning...reading the ads

and sipping juice

We have had a dry summer, which means the trees have already started turning colors...NO!

dress-up:  my sandals, Emma's undies, and socks from Grandma Sherry (used as mittens)

water gun fight 

Aunt Tina came to visit over Labor Day weekend.  We went to Swiss Days in Midway, Park Silly Market, the cabin, and IKEA.  Phew!  Outside time was a must...

as was painting time

Happy September, Everyone!